"The Sound of Magic" captured the attention of viewers all across the world.

According to FlixPatrol, an online content service rating aggregation site, as of May 11th, "The Sound of Magic," a Korean production, was ranked first in "Netflix Popular TV Programs" in 15 countries worldwide. It finished 5th in the overall standings.

"The Sound of Magic" is a new Netflix original series that premiered on May 6th in 190 countries at the same time. "The Sound of Magic" is the English title.

This musical narrates the story of a strange magician Ri Eul (Ji Chang Wook) who emerges unexpectedly in front of a girl who has lost her dream, Yoon Ai (Choi Seong Eun), and a boy who is forced to dream, Nile Deung (Hwang In Yeop).

It is based on the webtoon "Sambong Barbershop," "The God of Bath," and "Taste of a Bottle" by Ha Il Kwon.

In Korean works, the form of a'music drama,' in which actors sing and dance in the middle of a play, has proven difficult to discover.

The diversity strategy that emerged in the OTT (Over the Top service, a service that provides media content such as broadcast programs and movies over the open Internet) era is also evident in other works, but director Kim Seong Yoon faced a challenge in attempting to create a drama that combines musicals.

Through behind-the-scenes work, director Kim says that he did not aim to film a music drama from the start, but he brought music to emphasize the main character's feelings.

Although it was not done on purpose, this form of "music drama" is responsible for its popularity in nations such as India.

India is the birthplace of the Bollywood genre, and musical elements such as music and dance emerge in the film to guide the atmosphere of the play.

Scenes of students dancing and singing together appear multiple times in "The Sound of Magic," and these are studied as aspects that caught the hearts of Indian viewers.

FlixPatrol ranks each country based on the top ten rankings provided by Netflix, then aggregates and publishes the results.

According to the information revealed this afternoon, "The Sound of Magic" was the most watched television program in 15 of 42 nations. Bahrain, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka are among the countries represented.

Source[1]

Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

Source: [1]